Meet the Staff

Colby Swettberg, Ed.M, LCSW | Chief Executive Officer

(617) 224-1305

Colby Swettberg joined Silver Lining Mentoring in July 2009. As a former educator, Colby earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University, and later turned her focus to child welfare and social services earning a Master’s degree in Social Work from the Simmons School of Social Work. Colby came to Silver Lining Mentoring after working at The Home for Little Wanderers for eight years where she opened and oversaw a group home for LGBTQ teenagers, did clinical work in adoption and family stabilization team services, facilitated support groups for foster and adoptive families, and provided training and consultation nationwide on sexual orientation and gender identity issues. In 2012, Colby was honored to be chosen by then Senator John Kerry for the “Angel in Adoption” award for her advocacy efforts on behalf of youth in foster care. Colby represented the Commonwealth in Washington DC at the national convening of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. In October 2013, Colby was honored to receive the “Women of Excellence” award from national child welfare organization Youth Villages for her service to young women in foster care. Most recently, Colby was named a 2017 Barr Fellow and as a member will participate in a two-year program that includes a group learning journey and facilitated retreats.

Julie Asher | Deputy Director

(617) 830-5216

Julie joined Silver Lining Mentoring in May 2017. Having learned about the child welfare system from her work in the public and philanthropic sectors, she is thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to Silver Lining Mentoring’s important mission. Julie has dedicated her career to promoting positive impact and equity for children and families. Most recently, Julie worked at the Center on the Developing Child, where she facilitated partnerships across sectors with the goal of developing new solutions to support young children’s development. Prior to this, she worked as a senior program officer at the Robin Hood Foundation, overseeing early childhood and youth grants to nonprofits in New York City. Previously, she worked for the City of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services as a policy analyst for child care and child welfare. Julie earned her bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Cornell University and her master’s degree in public policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

Cori Mykoff | Director of Development

(617) 209-5307

Cori has always been fortunate to work with organizations whose missions seek to improve lives in a community-driven way. As a beneficiary of strong role models, Cori feels that access to great mentorship can change lives, and is honored that this passion has led her to Silver Lining Mentoring—a proven leader in providing this critical service to young people who need it most. Before Silver Lining, Cori was the senior development officer at The Posse Foundation in Boston, where she directed local fundraising efforts through collaboration with volunteer leaders, corporate sponsorships, grants, and events. Previously, she was the development officer at TERC, where she worked on federal research grants and national educator trade shows. Cori began her career at The Boston Bar Association and Foundation, where she helped to administer over $1 million in legal aid grants annually, and coordinated several volunteer committees and efforts. Outside of Silver Lining, Cori is a Board Member of The Philanthropy Connection, and volunteers with Emerson College, her alma mater.

Diana Meyers | Director of Administration

(617) 830-5528

Diana Meyers joined Silver Lining Mentoring in April 2014 to serve as the organization’s Director of Administration. She is responsible for managing daily and ongoing operations. Prior to joining SLM, Diana held the simultaneous, dual role of Administrative Director for the non-profits Mil Milagros and Strategies for Children. Having once been a foster parent herself, Diana saw first-hand the tremendous challenges faced by youth in the foster care system. Diana earned an M.Ed. at Eastern Nazarene College in a program sponsored by the Boston Public Schools and holds a BA in health studies.

Alaina Rosenberry, LCSW | Director of Programs

(617) 224-1102

Alaina Rosenberry first joined Silver Lining Mentoring in September 2010 as an intern from Simmons School of Social Work. Alaina comes to SLM with experience in issues of homelessness and youth education from her work at St. Mary’s Women and Children’s Center and Crittenton Women’s Union. Alaina completed her second clinical internship at Children’s Charter Trauma Clinic where she provided individual and family therapy to children, adolescents and adults who have experienced trauma. Alaina completed her Masters in Social Work and serves as Director of Programs, overseeing SLM’s one-to-one mentoring program and working to build and support long-term mentoring relationships for youth in care.

Christina “Mobile” Burrell | Senior Program Coordinator

(617) 224-1304

Christina ‘Mobile’ Burrell became a member of the Silver Lining Mentoring community in September 2015. As Program Coordinator, Mobile supports young people in Silver Lining Mentoring’s Learn & Earn Service. Prior to joining Silver Lining Mentoring, Mobile completed internships at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County and in a Boston Public Middle School. These experiences along with her prior work with children and youth navigating difficult life circumstances fueled her passion for contributing to making society more equitable and just for all individuals. Mobile comes to Silver Lining Mentoring with an eagerness to use her skills for creating and improving opportunities for youth to grow and excel in various aspects of life. Mobile has a B.A. in Human Development and Psychology from Connecticut College and received her Masters of Social Work from Boston College.

Ashley Gonclaves | External Relations Manager

(617) 224-1302

Ashley’s passion for social justice and desire to empower children and families in crisis led her to her role her at Silver Lining Mentoring. Prior to coming to Silver Lining Mentoring, she was the Impact Manager at Italian Home for Children where she focused on program quality for residential, community-based, and educational programming. She was instrumental in the creation, development, and implementation of the Emerging Leaders Society young professionals board as well as having grown the organization’s social media presence to increase engagement with external partners. She has previously held various roles at Jumpstart where she assisted with the strategic planning process and also participated in their Early Education in-school programming. Ashley is a Board Member of the Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy where she is an advocate for health equity for all youth. Ashley holds a BA in English from Boston College.

Daniel Gorton, MSW | Data Strategy Manager

(617) 391-9068

Daniel Gorton began his journey with Silver Lining Mentoring in 2013 as an intern from Boston College where he earned his Master’s degree in social work. With immense gratitude for the transformative role of mentors in his life, and an adoptee from foster care during adolescence, Daniel considers it a privilege to contribute to the organization’s mission of empowering youth with foster care experience. Daniel joined the team in June 2015. As Data Strategy Manager, Daniel has a passion for innovating with our team to integrate data, narratives, and the voices of our community members for continuous improvement and learning. He enjoys applying over a decade of agile project management to evolving data, reporting, and software solutions. Daniel also proudly serves as a board member for Walker (Needham, MA).

Julie Guest, MSW | Program Coordinator

(617) 209-5172

Julie Guest joined Silver Lining Mentoring in June 2016. Julie has a B.A. in Anthropology, Sociology, and Spanish from Roger Williams University and received her Masters of Social Work from Boston College. Prior to Silver Lining Mentoring, Julie was an in home therapist, primarily working with adoptive families around issues of mental health, trauma, attachment, loss, and joint problem solving. In 2011, Julie received a Fulbright Grant to conduct anthropological research for ten months in El Salvador. Her research focused on the social, political, and historical components that have influenced the cultural construction of adoption in El Salvador and contributed to its shifting intercountry adoption statistics. The conclusions gained from this research project have been helpful to social service professionals and policymakers as a guide to develop a culturally relative mindset that recognizes the history and culture of Latinos in order to identify how current child welfare services could be redesigned to better serve this population. During her time at Boston College, she held a position as a policy intern at the Donaldson Adoption Institute. At this organization, she helped promote the advancement of policy positions and advocacy strategies related to adoption. Julie is excited to bring her
diverse clinical and research experience in child welfare to Silver Lining Mentoring.

Evan Hubbard, LCSW | Program Supervisor

(617) 224-1303

Evan Hubbard joined Silver Lining Mentoring in February 2012. He received a Masters of Social Work from Wheelock College in 2010, where he specialized in working with LGBTQ youth involved in the foster and adoption care system. In 2007, Evan worked at True Colors Inc., a mentoring program for LGBTQ youth in care. Following his passion for helping LGBTQ youth in care, he worked at Greater Boston PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays) to help youth and their caregivers develop and foster healthy relationships and environments. While at Greater Boston PFLAG, Evan facilitated support groups, ran trainings statewide, presented at conferences and provided 1-to-1 support for parents and youth. Most recently, he worked at Elm Brook Place helping adults with psychiatric disabilities transition back into the workforce. Evan is excited to return his focus to the population that motivated him to pursue a career in social work.

Jesse Kerstetter | Program Supervisor

(617) 224-1301

Jesse joined Silver Lining Mentoring in January 2017. They received their Masters of Social Work from the University of Michigan, focusing on supporting LGBTQ+ youth share their personal stories as a means to educate and support safe and inclusive climates in young people’s schools and communities.Prior to this, Jesse served as an educator in Japan, as a JET Program participant, and Cape Verde and Mozambique as a US Peace Corps Volunteer. These experiences helped shape Jesse’s commitment to empowering youth to grow and share their voices in creating positive change within their communities. Jesse is excited to be a part of the Silver Lining Mentoring family, supporting SLM’s mission and goals as well as directly supporting young people affected by the foster care system

Jeeyoon Kim | Volunteer Manager

(617) 391- 9582

Jeeyoon Kim joined Silver Lining Mentoring in September 2017. She is very excited to join the team at SLM after spending three years working at ZUMIX, a youth arts nonprofit in East Boston, where she developed a college and career readiness curriculum and later managed community arts programming and major fundraisers. Jeeyoon is passionate about elevating new voices in all of her work and comes from a background in D&I having started her career at Emerson College’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion working to support campus-wide initiatives for students, faculty, and staff alike. Outside of the office, she is an avid supporter of the local music community as an experienced music writer and radio personality. Jeeyoon is an alumna of the AmeriCorps Mass Promise Fellowship, Health Resources In Action’s BEST Youth Worker Certificate Training, the Institute for Nonprofit Practice’s Community Fellows Program, and holds a BA in Print & Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College.

Lara Kingstone | Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator

(617) 391-9066

Lara joined Silver Lining Mentoring in December, 2017. She started her career as a Senior Mentor in The Challenge, a UK-based program designed to integrate London communities and empower youth to become active and engaged citizens. She then worked in an Educational Center in Israel, which aimed to help Palestinian and Israeli young people learn English together, while beginning to see each other as peers and friends. Lara earned a BA in Political Communications at IDC Herzliya, an Israeli University, while working as a journalist at The Culture Trip and producing and hosting a human rights radio talk show. After graduating, she moved to the Thai-Lao border where she volunteered at Child Rights And Protection Center, a small non-profit and girl’s shelter, which aims to prevent human trafficking and provide a safe and confidence-building environment for at-risk young women. Lara comes to Silver Lining Mentoring ready and excited to learn and work hard.

Victoria Murray, LCSW | Senior Program Coordinator

(617) 209-5308

Victoria Murray joined Silver Lining Mentoring in February 2014. She received her Master of Social Service from Bryn Mawr College. Prior to SLM, Victoria worked as a therapist, primarily working with youth and families around around navigating trauma, loss, anxiety, depression and family communication. Victoria is passionate about working with youth and utilizing a strengths-based perspective to help foster strong and authentic relationships. While in graduate school, Victoria worked at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, PA, supporting children and families in a healthcare setting. In addition, she worked at Lakeside Girls Academy, supporting pregnant and parenting youth while continuing their education. She has been fortunate to work with youth in a variety of settings including outdoor education, public schools, and home and community outreach, and is excited to bring her experiences to Silver Lining Mentoring.

Juliana Scherer, MPH, LCSW | Program Coordinator

(617) 209-5171

Juliana joined Silver Lining Mentoring in October, 2017. She received her Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health degrees from Boston University. Juliana began her career working with survivors of sexual and domestic violence, and went on to provide young parent support services through Massachusetts Healthy Families. Juliana completed clinical social work internships in hospital and community settings, where she focused particularly on empowerment, and the relationships between trauma, substance use and mental health, in the context of social oppressions.
Juliana couples her social work practice with her education in health policy and management, in the interest of developing social service programs which are equitable, effective and efficient, and shaped by the people they serve. Juliana is grateful to join the SLM family and excited to participate in the agency’s commitment to youth impacted by foster care.

Johara Suleiman, LCSW | Program Coordinator

(617) 209-5187

Johara Suleiman joined Silver Lining Mentoring in April 2017. Prior to her arrival at SLM, Johara served children and their families as an In-Home Family Therapist in the Boston area. As a family therapist, she supported family systems struggling with a wide range of challenges using a trauma-informed, child-centered framework with a variety of modalities. Through her Masters in Social Work program at Salem State University, Johara gained experience working with adults suffering from chronic substance abuse, and child protection in a hospital setting. In her position as program coordinator for SLM’s one-to-one mentoring program, Johara works to nurture and support long-term relationships between youths and their mentors.

Sandra Hodgetts | Development Manager

(617) 778-1312

Sandra Hodgetts joined Silver Lining Mentoring in July 2013. She has a B.A. in International Relations and a minor in Hispanic Studies from Connecticut College, where she completed an independent study on the effects of the Hague Adoption Convention on Guatemala’s adoption process. Sandra has experience working with youth in the foster care system during her time as an AmeriCorps VISTA on the Development Team at the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE).